bad fuel pump?

Lancer · 03-05-2022, 02:23 PM

1997 G16 has been running great for many years and well maintained. fuel starving symptoms, so I assume bad spark plug or bad gas. removed gas tank, cleaned it all out, and replaced with new gas and new spark plug. checked all fuel lines and vacuum line for leaks, all looks good. all lines and filter clear. before putting back together, I tested if engine would fire and noticed gas was not filling the fuel filter, so I tested different things and finally got gas to flow by disconnecting fuel line from tank and putting it into an elevated bowl of gas. Then I made sure gas line into tank was clear, then hooked the lines back up and engine continued to fire. So I put everything back together and took it for a nice 2 minute ride, ran great. I came to a stop for a few minutes with engine off, then tried to go and it won't fire, acting fuel-starved again.

At this point, I am thinking I must have a bad fuel pump. any clues?

thanks
Lance

rstacy · 03-07-2022, 07:31 AM

Are you sure that you are not losing spark?
You have a classic description of a bad TCI.
Did it start again once it cooled?

The fuel pump is very reliable but it is a good idea to pull the pulse line at the pump and blow back in to the engine. Crud builds up inside the engine and blocks or restricts the pulse pressure giving you reduced fuel flow.

slonomo · 03-07-2022, 07:39 AM

Take fuel line off carb and put into a jar/container, crank engine and see if fuel is pumping out. The stream should be strong and in 10 seconds of cranking you should have a couple ounces of fuel.

You can always replace the fuel pump. On my carts I use a Mikuni pump from the Vanguard engines, it's much much less expensive and will work perfectly. The downside is it won't bolt right up the way the OE pump does, but I usually just attach one mounting bolt and it's fine.

When I replace a fuel pump, I also replace all associated fuel and pulse hoses at the same time. Hoses do leak vacuum and do deteriorate from the inside out. There could be an issue with a hose that you can't see. Replace them, they're inexpensive.

Dave in VA · 03-07-2022, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstacy

Are you sure that you are not losing spark?
You have a classic description of a bad TCI.
Did it start again once it cooled?

The fuel pump is very reliable but it is a good idea to pull the pulse line at the pump and blow back in to the engine. Crud builds up inside the engine and blocks or restricts the pulse pressure giving you reduced fuel flow.

This ^^^. Hook up an in-line spark tester and go for a ride...

Lancer · 03-07-2022, 09:07 AM

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll report back when I get it resolved. I am going to make sure all lines are clean, test the fuel flow out of the pump into the carb, test the spark, and possibly replace lines and/or fuel pump roughly in that order.

rstacy · 03-07-2022, 09:29 AM

With a bad TCI the car may or may not start.
If it starts it will run for 5-15 minutes and then die. It will start again once it cools off. A cheap inline spark tester will tell the story.

DOOmsman · 03-07-2022, 01:29 PM

see the sticky above about fuel pumps

Lancer · 03-07-2022, 06:32 PM

so I used the inline spark tester, and the spark is good. I replaced the vacuum line, and removed the fuel line connection to the carb and no fuel is coming out, and no fuel is being pulled through or visible in the filter. All indicators point to the fuel pump I guess. will look at the Mikuni pump.

slonomo · 03-08-2022, 09:56 PM

This is the one I have used on several different carts, works well.

CP241 · 03-09-2022, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slonomo

This is the one I have used on several different carts, works well.

Excellent choice. I’ve bought about a dozen of those.

Briggs & Stratton 808656 Fuel Pump https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1FIN9T...MX38M990M9G8YB

03-05-2022, 02:23 PM	#1
Lancer Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Haymarket, VA Posts: 41	bad fuel pump? 1997 G16 has been running great for many years and well maintained. fuel starving symptoms, so I assume bad spark plug or bad gas. removed gas tank, cleaned it all out, and replaced with new gas and new spark plug. checked all fuel lines and vacuum line for leaks, all looks good. all lines and filter clear. before putting back together, I tested if engine would fire and noticed gas was not filling the fuel filter, so I tested different things and finally got gas to flow by disconnecting fuel line from tank and putting it into an elevated bowl of gas. Then I made sure gas line into tank was clear, then hooked the lines back up and engine continued to fire. So I put everything back together and took it for a nice 2 minute ride, ran great. I came to a stop for a few minutes with engine off, then tried to go and it won't fire, acting fuel-starved again. At this point, I am thinking I must have a bad fuel pump. any clues? thanks Lance

03-07-2022, 07:31 AM	#2
rstacy Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Western NY Posts: 644	Re: bad fuel pump? Are you sure that you are not losing spark? You have a classic description of a bad TCI. Did it start again once it cooled? The fuel pump is very reliable but it is a good idea to pull the pulse line at the pump and blow back in to the engine. Crud builds up inside the engine and blocks or restricts the pulse pressure giving you reduced fuel flow.

03-07-2022, 07:39 AM	#3
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: bad fuel pump? Take fuel line off carb and put into a jar/container, crank engine and see if fuel is pumping out. The stream should be strong and in 10 seconds of cranking you should have a couple ounces of fuel. You can always replace the fuel pump. On my carts I use a Mikuni pump from the Vanguard engines, it's much much less expensive and will work perfectly. The downside is it won't bolt right up the way the OE pump does, but I usually just attach one mounting bolt and it's fine. When I replace a fuel pump, I also replace all associated fuel and pulse hoses at the same time. Hoses do leak vacuum and do deteriorate from the inside out. There could be an issue with a hose that you can't see. Replace them, they're inexpensive.

03-07-2022, 09:07 AM	#5
Lancer Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Haymarket, VA Posts: 41	Re: bad fuel pump? Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll report back when I get it resolved. I am going to make sure all lines are clean, test the fuel flow out of the pump into the carb, test the spark, and possibly replace lines and/or fuel pump roughly in that order.

03-07-2022, 09:29 AM	#6
rstacy Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Western NY Posts: 644	Re: bad fuel pump? With a bad TCI the car may or may not start. If it starts it will run for 5-15 minutes and then die. It will start again once it cools off. A cheap inline spark tester will tell the story.

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03-07-2022, 01:29 PM	#7
DOOmsman Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reddick IL Posts: 11,220	Re: bad fuel pump? see the sticky above about fuel pumps

03-07-2022, 06:32 PM	#8
Lancer Not Yet Wild Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Haymarket, VA Posts: 41	Re: bad fuel pump? so I used the inline spark tester, and the spark is good. I replaced the vacuum line, and removed the fuel line connection to the carb and no fuel is coming out, and no fuel is being pulled through or visible in the filter. All indicators point to the fuel pump I guess. will look at the Mikuni pump.

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